Return of the Mount Hua Sect [EN]: Chapter 1337

Where am I? How long has this been going on?

Whoosh!

A chilling blade flew unexpectedly, slicing the foot she was about to plant on the ground.

Yoo Iseol instantly lost her balance and tumbled headfirst onto the ground. Her foot gave way. It felt like the muscles were cut. She couldn’t even feel it.

But Yoo Iseol didn’t despair; she didn’t give up.

Wham!

She slammed her hands against the ground, pushing herself forward. A sharp jolt ran through her wrist, threatening to break it, but she ignored it.

‘Further!’

One more step!

“Die, you bitch!”

Filled with venomous intent, the Maninbang warriors bared their teeth, howling as they swung their blades at her. Yoo Iseol immediately blocked with her sword, meeting the blows head-on.

Clang!

The swords hit. She used the impact to roll back and get up.

‘How far have I come?’

No, she mustn’t think.

If she did, she might despair at the distance that remained.

And it didn’t matter how far she’d come. Wherever she was, what she had to do wouldn’t change.

Whoosh!

A red blade flew menacingly. Realizing she couldn’t block them all, Yoo Iseol’s left hand instinctively covered Chung Myung’s head.

Clang! Slice!

The sound of her sword clashing against the blade and the sound of flesh being cut rang out at the same time.

Her side was slashed, and a great deal of blood poured out, but Yoo Iseol didn’t falter or stagger. She immediately pulled back.

Further. One more step.

“That tenacious bitch!”

The Maninbang warriors stared at Yoo Iseol as if they were fed up. One of them spat on the ground.

Her face was a bruised and swollen mess. Her eyes were almost hidden by the swelling, making it hard to see.

But even in this terrible state, she kept moving, stubbornly dodging their attacks.

‘Just a little further…’

Her blood soaked into the ground, turning the dust into dark red mud.

She couldn’t even feel the pain anymore. All that remained was the will to escape.

Whoosh!

As the blade flew, Yoo Iseol’s sword moved without thinking.

Clang!

But her sword no longer had the strength to block the blade. The moment the blade and sword hit, her wrist twisted. The deflected blade sliced through her thigh.

Slice!

The blade ripped through her thigh. She saw the white bone flash for a moment before blood poured out.

But the bigger problem than the serious injury was that she could no longer use her leg.

‘I have to go further…’

She could no longer kick off the ground with force, nor could she nimbly dodge the enemy’s attacks. Her right leg would no longer move as she wanted it to.

Zzzzzz. Zzz. Zzzzzz.

But even as she dragged her limp leg, Yoo Iseol faced the Maninbang warriors, constantly retreating. The rough stones of the path dug into her hands as she pushed herself up.

Because of the blood loss, her thoughts were breaking apart.

She couldn’t clearly remember when she had started fighting or why she was fighting.

All that moved her was the faint warmth against her back.

She had to protect him.

She had always said she would protect him, but she had only ever been protected. So this time, she had to protect this one. Chung Myung needed her. He was always so brave. Now it was her turn to be strong for him.

“Don’t… worry…”

Yoo Iseol forced herself to raise her sword. But her wrist seemed to be dislocated, and it kept drooping.

“I’m… still… okay…”

She didn’t know if she was talking to Chung Myung or just to herself. It didn’t matter.

“…Even in that state…”

A voice, sounding disgusted and weary, reached her muffled ears.

Strangely, she laughed.

They wouldn’t understand, those people.

These selfish warriors wouldn’t understand. They only fight for themselves.

Because of him, plum blossoms bloomed on her sword.

Because of him, Hyun Jong smiled.

Because of him, she protected the place where she lived, and her father’s life and death were not in vain.

Wasn’t that enough? Did she need more reason than that to risk her life for someone?

“Sa-hyung is…”

Yoo Iseol’s lips barely opened.

“Protect… Sa-hyung…”

This was too much, even for her.

Even if the Maninbang warriors didn’t swing their swords, she was in a state where her breath would naturally stop. She was barely alive, and it wouldn’t be strange to call her a corpse.

But the Maninbang warriors couldn’t bring themselves to simply end her life. They were overwhelmed by something other than fear, something other than awe.

“Sa-hyung is…”

But only for a moment.

Soon, a roar erupted from behind the Maninbang warriors.

“What are you doing, you idiots! Why haven’t you killed her yet!”

It was a scene that those who had finally joined from inside the canyon could not understand.

Those who flinched at the rebuke bit their lips. And soon, they rushed at Yoo Iseol again.

She had to resist. She had to fight.

But her arms and legs were already limp.

“Sa-hyung is…”

A blade flew towards Yoo Iseol’s neck. She barely managed to raise her unmoving arm to block it, but the sword, drooping at the end, didn’t even touch the blade’s path.

The blade grazed Yoo Iseol’s wrist and approached her neck.

“Protect…”

Claaang!

At that moment, with a thunderous roar, the blade that had reached Yoo Iseol’s neck was deflected, along with a spray of red blood. Someone caught and supported Yoo Iseol and Chung Myung, who had collapsed from the impact that had exploded right next to her neck.

Through her blurred vision, Yoo Iseol saw someone looking down at her.

‘…Jo… Geol?’

Jo Gul burst into the clearing, his face red and his eyes wild.

“These…”

Jo Gul’s face was twisted in rage. Tears streamed down his cheeks, mixing with sweat and dirt.

“These bastards! These evil sect guys! How dare they…”

Holding Yoo Iseol up with one hand, Jo Gul thrust his sword forward.

The explosive quick sword instantly created large holes in the bodies of the Maninbang warriors, who had hesitated at the appearance of the new enemy.

“Aaaargh!”

Jo Gul’s anger was not relieved in the slightest. Red plum blossom sword energy poured from the tip of his sword.

The rough, almost violent sword energy swept through those who were faltering and retreating, tearing them to shreds.

“Sa-hyung!”

Jo Gul shouted at Yoo Iseol, who seemed to have lost consciousness.

When Yoo Iseol faintly opened her eyes, she saw Jo Gul’s face, tears streaming down his cheeks.

“Sa-hyung, are you alright!”

“Sa-hyung is…”

“Damn it, think about yourself first!”

Jo Gul shouted as if he was frustrated, and a faint smile flickered on Yoo Iseol’s lips.

Jo Gul held her tightly as she slumped.

Even a fleeting glance showed that there wasn’t a single part of her body that was unscathed. Chung Myung and Sa-hyung had fought to the end in this state.

‘It’s my fault!’

If he had been just a little faster, the two of them wouldn’t have been hurt so badly.

If he had been just a little stronger, he could have knocked down those blocking his path faster and reached this place.

The thought that each and every wound on their bodies was caused by his weakness made his blood boil.

Jo Gul gritted his teeth and slung the two of them over his shoulders.

What he had to do now was not release his boiling anger, but to save them.

Tap!

He kicked off the ground and shot forward like an arrow.

“Chase him! Now!”

The Maninbang warriors, who had hesitated for a moment at the unexpected appearance of Jo Gul, immediately followed him as soon as he turned his back.

“Get out of the way, you bastards!”

The demonic sect members, who were listlessly pursuing the already passed Hainan, noticed Jo Gul’s presence, who had suddenly appeared from behind, and turned pale.

Jo Gul mercilessly pierced their backs.

Crack! Crack!

Those with fist-sized holes in their bodies collapsed on the spot.

“What, what is it!”

“He’s behind us! He’s coming from behind!”

The demonic sect members frantically swung their weapons, but the attacks, swung hastily and without strength, could not possibly stop Jo Gul.

“Get out of my way!”

“Get them, you fools!” someone yelled.

The Maninbang dogs, still chasing Jo Gul, charged into the crowd. They roared angrily at the Sapa people who were blocking their path.

The Sapa people panicked and tried to move, but there were too many of them packed together. They couldn’t get out of the way fast enough.

Some Sapa people stumbled into the charging dogs. The dogs were too fast to stop. People flew into the air like rag dolls, blood spraying out like rain from a broken bucket.

“Damn it!”

The Maninbang dogs who had been chasing him were furious.

The Maninbang dogs’ own people were now blocking them. Even Ho Gamyeong couldn’t have foreseen this.

“You worm-eaten bastards!”

Growing impatient, the Maninbang dogs started punching the Sapa people. Some of the truly vicious ones didn’t hesitate to cut them down with their swords.

“Kraaah!!”

The Sapa people, who never imagined that their own side would wield their swords against them, screamed and tumbled in confusion.

Of course, this chaos wouldn’t last long, but even this was a golden opportunity for Jo Gul.

Thud!

“Aaargh!”

Jo Gul’s foot crushed the Sapa man’s shoulder. He pushed off the man’s shoulder to jump forward, moving fast like an arrow.

Whoosh!

A spear, rapidly approaching from below, aimed for Jo Gul’s left arm.

But Jo Gul ignored it. The moment he stopped, he would die. All he had to do now was move forward, and join the main force ahead.

Wham!

“Aaargh!”

Jo Gul, leaping off another Sapa man’s shoulder, descended in an arc. In his bloodshot eyes, he saw a steel spear rising sharply.

He had to retreat or twist his body.

But Jo Gul’s choice was different. He shoved the sword he was holding into its scabbard, and suddenly reached out and grabbed the spear shaft.

“What?”

Rip!

The spear was strong with power, and it cut Jo Gul’s hand quickly. But instead of letting go, he pressed down even harder. The solid steel spear bent like a bow for a moment, then straightened.

Jo Gul used that force to launch himself forward like a cannonball.

Scritch! Scritch!

The swords that the Sapa people swung haphazardly grazed and cut his body repeatedly.

But Jo Gul didn’t even blink. His gaze was fixed only on the direction he had to go.

There. It has to be there! It must be there!

And the moment he finally spotted a familiar figure, he couldn’t hold back any longer and shouted as if screaming.

“Venerable Hae Yeon!”

Hae Yeon, who had been fending off the Sapa people chasing the group including Baek Cheon, quickly raised his eyes. And the moment he saw Jo Gul, carrying Chung Myung and Yiseol, flying through the distant sky, he quickly headed towards them.

“Dojang!”

Hae Yeon’s body couldn’t possibly be unscathed. But he threw himself into the middle of the Sapa people without hesitation, as if he had no thought for his own safety.

Wham!

Those who were hit by Hae Yeon’s shoulder spat out blood and flew away.

He immediately planted his feet on the ground and sent the Sapa people flying. Perhaps because he had used too much of his inner force, blood was constantly pouring from his nose and mouth.

But this was no time to be exhausted! He had to clear a path so that they could come safely!

“A—mi—ta—bul!”

Hae Yeon desperately punched and kicked the Sapa people away.

After a while, a clear path was finally opened in the middle of the enemy.

His inner force had already been pushed to its limit.

The moment he reached his limit, Hae Yeon’s eyes flashed uncharacteristically for a Buddhist.

“Ooooooh!”

This was the Baegbo Shin-gwon, a powerful Shaolin move. Hae Yeon knew he was too weak to use it, and maybe he shouldn’t even try.

The power he poured out with his soul sent the densely packed Sapa people flying in all directions like firecrackers.

Plop.

Eventually, Hae Yeon’s knees buckled and touched the ground. He spat out blood from all seven orifices and gripped the ground with trembling hands.

‘Ah, not yet…!’

Hae Yeon felt very weak, but he tried to stand up. But then, someone jumped out from behind him, shouting sharply.

“Get out of the way, Monk!”

“Do, Dojang?”

Soon, Hae Yeon’s world was covered in red petals.

“Aaargh!”

“Kraaah!”

Tang Soso, who had rushed forward in front of Hae Yeon, swung her sword wildly and rapidly. Every time the Plum Blossom Sword Qi poured out, the screams and blood of the Sapa people filled the air.

Tang Soso immediately jumped into the air and shouted.

“Sahyung!”

“Got it!”

She jumped over the heads of the Sapa people and stretched out her sword, and Jo Gul stepped down on it with his foot as if he already knew.

The moment the sword’s surface and his foot made contact.

“Euracha!”

Tang Soso swung her sword with all her might, shouting a loud battle cry!

The sound of the muscles in her shoulder snapping was clearly audible, such was the force of her sword strike!

That sword strike sent the three people who had put their weight on the sword flying forward for sure.

“Ugh!”

Red blood gushed from Jo Gul’s mouth.

It was the price he paid for suppressing even the minimum amount of inner force to protect his body, in order to fly even further, and taking the full force of the sword strike.

The hit was so strong it made him see black for a moment.

But even in the darkness where his vision was obscured, he never forgot what he had to do.

“Venerable!”

He couldn’t see. But he knew he was there.

Jo Gul threw the two people he had been carrying on his shoulders forward, firmly believing that Hae Yeon would catch them.

When the world, which had been black for a moment, regained its color, Jo Gul saw it.

He saw Hae Yeon, who had flown into the air, safely catching the two people.

“Heh…”

Only then did a small smile escape his lips.

The ground rushed towards him.

With a thud, Jo Gul slammed into the ground, bounced a few times, and then slammed into it again.

“Ugh…”

A chuckle escaped from Jo Gul’s mouth as he lay sprawled out.

‘I… did… it…’

The place where he fell was in the middle of the enemy’s camp.

The enemies were approaching him like a pack of wolves as he lay there.

Besides, he couldn’t resist. He didn’t have the strength to even lift a finger now.

‘Who cares…’

If the price for saving them was death, he would just die smiling.

Jo Gul grinned and accepted his end.

Whoosh!

Then, an incredibly powerful sword Qi swept into his vision.

A red sword Qi that seemed to be fueled more by resentment than power.

Jo Gul’s eyes widened for a moment.

Those who had been rushing at Jo Gul were cut in half and scattered without even screaming. A large amount of blood poured down like rain on Jo Gul’s face as he lay fallen.

And the person who appeared in that pouring blood grabbed Jo Gul by the collar and pulled him up.

“You did well, you crazy bastard!”

“…Baek Cheon? What are you doing here?”

“Do you think I am!”

Baek Cheon pulled Jo Gul up completely and shouted.

“Soso!”

“Yes, Sasook!”

Tang Soso quickly ran over and carried Jo Gul on her back. But Baek Cheon still didn’t let go of the collar he was holding.

When Tang Soso looked at him with questioning eyes, Baek Cheon paused for a moment and said to Jo Gul.

“We’ll talk about your insubordination later.”

“…I just wish I could die, really.”

“I’m the one who wants to kill you, you damn bastard!”

“…But…”

“What!”

“…Why are you crying? How embarrassing…”

“Go!”

Baek Cheon pushed Tang Soso’s back. He watched her run for a moment, then turned around without regret.

Everyone had finally left. Behind his back. Now it was his turn to block them.

Now was the moment for him to protect.

He swung his sword strongly. The sword Qi exploded out, sweeping away those around him in an instant.

“No one goes past here.”

The tip of Baek Cheon’s sword, stained with blood, shone in the sunlight.

“Not before you kill me!”